Revelations #2
“Oh, he loves her.” Elizabeth’s earnest green eyes drilled into mine. “However, he’s not in love with her. They’re friends, and that’s how they will remain. Of course, it’s up to you to decide the fate of their friendship.”
“Up to me?” My voice hitched.
“Yes, Vera. It’s up to you.” Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, she continued, “He would choose you over his closest friends and even his own family if he ever had to make that choice.”
“He won’t have to choose,” I assured.
Elizabeth clutched one of the decorative pillows and toyed with the embroidered design before gazing intently at me again. “Do you trust my son?”
“Yes. Still, I don’t trust everyone in the Scott family. Especially Erin.” I let the pause hang before adding, “And no offense, Oliver.”
“I’ll tell you what happened to Erin years ago.”
“Oh?” I started to see a fierce woman emerge from behind the hospitable facade. Elizabeth was every bit as forthright as I was.
“Did you see her emerald necklace and earrings today?”
“It’s hard not to notice. I can only imagine the cost of them.”
“They’re mine.”
“Why is she wearing them?”
Elizabeth cleared her throat, then squared her shoulders. “Alistair was a college student when he started dating her. She seemed lovely at first sight, but looks are deceiving.”
“Boy, don’t I know it,” I huffed.
“My jewelry went missing over time. At first, I thought it was a new cleaner we had hired, so I fired her. But I found the necklace and earrings in Erin’s car as I sat, waiting for her to give me a lift into town one day.”
“She stole from you?”
“Oh, yes. She sputtered some silly excuse. I persisted in questioning her, commenting that it was ridiculous for the staff to hide jewels in someone else’s car.”
“Did Erin snap at you?”
“She accused me of snooping. All I did was glance at the back seat.”
“Did she apologize to you?”
“She gripped the driver’s wheel, blank and unapologetic.”
“That sounds like Erin,” I said, shaking my head.
“I told her to keep the jewels and stay away from my son.”
“Did you tell anyone else?” I asked.
Only John. He wanted Erin gone. He and Darius Quinn, Saira’s father, already planned an alliance for our companies’ expansion, sealed by marriage between our children.”
“So, he pressured Alistair to break up with Erin?”
Elizabeth nodded, compressing her lips tightly.
“What about Saira and her family?”
“Darius was a pillar of strength and a colossal success,” Elizabeth continued. “Yet, I was suspicious of the rumors about his involvement with illegal businesses. The mafia. His wife passed away when Saira and her younger brother, Nicholas, were children.”
“Saira must have been lonely,” I speculated.
“She had plenty of relatives, but you can never replace the love of a mother.”
“Still, it’s no excuse for what she’s done.”
“Of course not,” Elizabeth agreed. “Saira has known my son since they were children. She and Nick visited us plenty of times. Alistair preferred Nick’s company as they were closer in age.”
“He told me Saira was older.”
“Four years, to be exact,” she said. “As an adult, he dated different women, including Erin, whom he claimed to love. After the incident with my jewels, John persuaded him to leave her and take an interest in Saira.”
“From the frying pan into the fire.” I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
Elizabeth did not smile. “When Alistair proposed to Saira, his affection flattered her. She had a penchant for young and energetic men.”
“Alistair never loved her back.” I sighed, rubbing the side of my forehead.
“He was close to Nick,” she said. “He grieved when Nick died in a boating accident in Europe.”
“Alistair said they never found Nick’s body,” I responded. “Do you believe Saira was responsible for the explosion on the boat?”
Elizabeth stared at me. I shook my head at the tangled mess of the Scott-Quinn saga. She broke the stillness by laying one hand over mine.
“Alistair loves Damian, and he loves you. Don’t let anything else matter.”
She rose, her elegance filling the room as she walked away, leaving me alone with the heavy truth of her words, and the reminder that loving Alistair meant inheriting every complication of his life.
Alistair
“Vera, I was looking for you.” I caught her in the foyer, my fingers threading through hers, holding tight, unwilling to let her slip away.
She tried for indifference, but the tension in her eyes betrayed her. “I’m fine.”
I traced her pulse with my thumb. “You’re never fine when you say you’re fine.”
She gave a half-laugh, eyes flicking away. “Erin backed me into a corner tonight. Says you’re screwing Bianca.”
I stepped closer and claimed her hips like I had every right. “You think I’d do that to you?”
She met my gaze with warm, mocha eyes. “Of course not. Do you think I’m that fragile? Erin thrives on drama to deflect from her own mess. I’m not playing her game.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Then what is it? You’re circling something, Vera.”
She hesitated, searching my face for a safe place to land.
“It’s not just Erin. She’s loud, but she’s not that smart.
The media garbage? It’s Saira. It has to be.
That woman’s a psychopath. Dangerous and smart.
She can manipulate anyone, even from prison.
Erin’s just a mouthpiece. If she’s gassing on about Bianca, it’s because Saira wants her to.
This all feels like the quiet before a storm, and I’m done waiting to get blindsided. ”
A chill ran through me. Saira was more than vindictive. She was methodical, patient, and always two steps ahead of the game. “That woman will eat you alive if you let her. She’ll twist every word, every look.”
Vera squeezed my hand, steady as stone, mouth curving. “She can’t break me. I survived you, remember? Pretty sure I’m indestructible.”
A reluctant grin tugged at my mouth. “You did more than survive me, love. You ruined me for anyone else.”
She leaned in, close enough to steal my breath. “I need to see Saira alone. She’ll drop her guard and believe she’s in control. Let her think she’s playing cat and mouse. But if you’re there, she’ll put up a wall.”
I cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing her jaw. “You’re asking me to stand back while you walk into a snake pit alone. I don’t know how to do that.”
She softened, brushing her lips against mine. “You already do. You trust me like I trust you. We’re honest with each other.”
“You’re the one, Vera. Full stop. I never gave a damn about being better until you. I want to be the man you deserve.”
She kissed me hard, mouth hungry, hands sliding under my shirt to rake her nails across my skin. I hauled her against me, pinning her hips to mine, feeling her body melt and fight in the same breath. Her scent—jasmine and trouble—filled my head.
She broke away just enough to graze my jaw with her lips. “I know. That’s why I’m doing this. For us.”
I let my hands memorize her waist. “Promise you’ll come back to me. ”
“Always. I find my way back to you every time.”
She eased away, straightening the handbag strap on her shoulder. But before she reached the door, I gently caught her wrist. “Whatever you face in there, you’re never alone. You’re my heart, Vera.”
She pressed her palm to my chest. “Good. Because you’re mine.”
And just like that, she was gone. This time, the ache in my chest felt different. Stronger. Because trusting her wasn’t just an act of faith; it was the only thing that made me feel whole. Vera was my risk—and my reward.